MSJ Library team is pleased to announce that it was awarded a 2025 Celebrating Ohio Book Awards & Authors (COBAA) grant from the State Library of Ohio.
The MSJ Library team partnered with Assistant Professor in Graduate Education, Dr. Megan Dinnesen Ed.D., and English Professor, Dr. Elizabeth Mason Ph.D. to secure “Celebrating Ohio Book Awards & Authors” (COBAA) grant. This grant enables libraries to purchase books by Ohio authors, as well as books recognized by Ohio-based book award programs.
As a result, MSJ Librarians Ruth Monnier, Julie Flanders, and Library Director Scott Lloyd were able to purchase, catalog, and process 173 books from the COBAA book list pertaining to exceptionalities, graphic novels, and Spanish translations for both professors’ respective English and Education classrooms. The books are now available for checkout and some of the books are currently on display in the library lobby.
Dr. Dinnesen’s “Collaboration & Transition” class in the School of Education focuses on preparing educators to promote collaborative learning environments and support students' transitions. Ruth Monnier worked with Dr. Dinnesen and her to identify a carefully selected list of books to enhance the MSJ Library’s existing Exceptionalities Collection of books, which focus on representing specialized support and lived experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.
Overall, the students found this collaborative experience impactful and rewarding to expand and enhance the collection of books available to the Mount Community and MSJ students.
“I am so grateful to be included in this valuable experience working with grants that many pre-service teachers don’t encounter until they are in the field,” says junior Cierra VanDermark ’26. “It makes my heart so happy knowing that children and college students with and without exceptionalities can read these important books.”
Additionally, Dr. Mason teaches “The 20th-Century Graphic Novel,” a course that explores the development and significance of graphic novels as a medium, examining themes within their historical, social, and artistic contexts. She and Ruth Monnier chose additional Ohio Authors and Book Award winners that would expand the current circulating graphic novels from the library, as well as expand her students’ understanding of their literary value.
Student Testimonials—Hear from Our Students!
These testimonials highlight students’ appreciation for this project's real-world application, important representation, and the opportunity to learn from these books to contribute meaningfully to their community.
“I value exploring books that portray [different] communities. I am especially interested in books that represent real individuals with exceptionalities living and participating in the world with others. I value books that highlight an individual’s ability to be whatever they want to be despite their disability, because a disability doesn’t limit an individual’s ability to live.” -Lucy Wurzelbacher ’26
“It is cool that as future teachers we have the chance to search for and purchase books that we may want in our classrooms and that help spread awareness to other students who use our library.” MacKenzie Browning ’26
“I felt like this was a simple process that ended as a huge success. The books all seemed different and interesting in their own way. I just finished my first book from the collection and I want to read more.” -Skylar Fletcher ’26
“It’s cool that we can have an impact on the Mount Community to expand the knowledge of people with exceptionalities to everyone on campus. I’m so glad we were able to choose books that represent others.” -Ryan Lay ’26
“The COBAA grant experience was an excellent opportunity to learn about the grant process. The Exceptionalities Collection is an amazing collection of books that have allowed my peers and me to learn about individuals with exceptionalities and their unique experiences.” -Payton Frost ’26
About the Institute of Museum & Library Services
Since 2016, the COBAA grant initiative has provided funds to help libraries expand collections and support literacy by connecting Ohio readers to both Ohio authors and Ohio book award winners. The COBAA grant is administered through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program by the State Library of Ohio and funded through the independent federal agency Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) via their Grants to States program.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. IMLS advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grant-making, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.